Our Ireland Adventure Day 14

The Clontarf Castle Hotel - Returning the Renault Fluence

Today is our last full day here on the Emerald Isle. We enjoyed our breakfast at the Glenleary B&B and our very nice chat with host Ann, before traveling back to Dublin for our last night. We will be flying out to return to reality tomorrow. 

We drove from Northern Ireland back to Dublin taking the contemporary freeway route, about 137 miles on the M1. The trip was very calm and easy. Our hotel for the night, the Clontarf Castle Hotel is a modern hotel that incorporated an 1172 Norman Castle. It was very nice but not our favorite.

Paul and I ate (and drank) in the hotel bar and join the locals as they cheered a friendly soccer game (with Slovakia). We also groaned in unison as the Irish goalkeeper Rob Elliot injured his knee.

This Irish trip proved to be a perfect adventure. Paul and I enjoyed every moment of our time here. Most importantly, the Irish people were very helpful, friendly and fun. “Céad míle fáilte” is one of the most loved Irish expressions worldwide and it literally means a hundred thousand welcomes. We felt welcome wherever we went.

I did not expect the food to be so tasty and healthy. Our meals were reasonably priced, well-prepared, and always plentiful.  I will true miss my morning ration of Irish Bacon. 

We drove our rental car, a Renault Fluence, to discover breathtaking beautify universally located on this island. Paul and I felt peace and tranquility as we roamed.  Ireland’s scenery must be seen to be believed. I would recommend Ireland to anyone who wishes a vacation and memories of a lifetime.

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Our Ireland Adventure Day 13

Old Bushmills Distillery and the Giant Causeway 

We had planned to stay at the Lough Eske Castle this morning and be lazy. However, deciding to follow the advice from the locals – we added the Bushmill Distillery Tour and the Giant Causeway to our agenda. First Philip cooked us a lovey breakfast . . . . made per order; then we were off to Northern Ireland.

After about three hours on the road, Bushmills distillery was our first stop. It was a fun tour and Paul found himself an awesome warm jacket; but photos were not allowed and that was a bummer for me. However, while Paul was shopping, I made a friend . . . the free sample man. Boy did he get me going. He even gave me a sample of the Bushmill’s Honey which I liked a lot. Paul came back to a tipsy wife.

Going to the Bushmill’s Distillery was very special because today is Grandpa Smith’s (Paul’s Dad) birthday. He always talked about going to Ireland but did not make it before he passed. Bushmills was his favorite Irish whiskey and we shared more than a glass or two in the past. Today Paul and I both tasted the Bushmills in his honor.

We had a very nice lunch at the Causeway Hotel bar. The place was hopping, but the service still very friendly and quick.

The Giant Causeway is known as the jewel in the crown of the fabulous coast of Antrim. What a gorgeous place to go for a walk; and walk we did. Paul and I walked both trails and got in a four mile hike. The only drawback was the hordes of people who were on the same path.

The weather, which was rainy on our three-hour drive morphed into the perfect brisk but sunny Irish day. I will let the photos above speak to its beauty. 

We checked into the Glenleary B&B. The room was very large and our host Ann very accommodating. Tomorrow we will drive back to Dublin and prepare for our trip back home.

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The Flower Fields in Carlsbad

Worth the Admission?

by Stacey Kuhns

The Flower Fields, located in Carlsbad, at 5704 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008, is a seasonal attraction that draws tourists and local alike. The Flower Fields are open from March 1 through May 8 this year, daily from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

There is almost 50 acres of ranunculus flowers, walking paths, plants for sale, birds, a variety of other flowers, and a tractor/wagon ride (which usually is $5 and is run by the Antique Steam and Engine Museum). 

Admission to the Flower Fields is Adults ($14), Seniors-60+/Military ($13), Children 3-10 ($7) and children under 2 are free.

I have lived in San Diego County for approximately 29 years. I have walked on the sidewalk above the Flower Fields, driven by the Flower Fields, but never paid to go inside the Flower Fields. Is it worth it? For me, it most definitely was. I guess it depends what you are hoping to find.

There is a play area for children, and they seem to love the tractor/wagon ride. There are some snacks and drinks for sale and it is a fabulous backdrop for family photos. There is also a "mining" area for the kids. For $4, they get to pick a bucket of dirt that contains at least 9 semi-precious gemstones. They wash and sift through the dirt to "find" their gems.

As you can see, my boyfriend got way more than 9 gems. All the staff running the place, from the ticket booth to the mining, to the drivers, are extremely friendly and there to answer any questions you have. 

The ranunculus are gorgeous and truly amazing when seen up close. Each year, The Flower Fields grows one of the large fields of flowers into a picture, usually of the American flag (on the Palomar Airport Road side of the fields). It was not grown in yet when we visited, but there were still acres and acres of beautiful flowers to explore.

You can stand at the top of The Flower Fields and look over the gorgeous colors and right out to the ocean.

We chose not to take the tractor/wagon ride as I wanted to really walk around and see all the flowers up close and take pictures in the designated areas that make it seem like you are sitting inside the field of flowers. There is green tape around all the flower beds and it is easy to see where the picture spots are. Unfortunately, we also saw a few people stepping over the tape and walking into the flower beds to take pictures. They do have security there, but not enough when it gets crowded. There is also a sweet pea garden area.

There are also a number of benches where you can sit and relax, take it all in, and enjoy the ocean breezes.

I recommend getting there when they open. It is usually a little overcast then and a lot less crowded. It just seems to be the perfect time to go. By 11:00 or so, it starts getting very crowded and hot. I would advise wearing sunscreen and bringing water or something cool to drink, especially if you have children with you. Once you get into the actual area where the fields are, it is packed dirt, no paving, so be aware of that.

There is an area near the restrooms where they have a number of colorful finches, lorikeets, doves, and other birds to observe.

Is it worth the price of admission? 

I thought so and wondered why I had never visited before. The Flower Fields are also located near many restaurants and shops, all within walking distance of the parking lot. 

If you plan to go, go soon before the flowers are gone. 

Aquarium Depot - The Amazing Reef Coloring Book #AquariumDepot

Adult coloring has become a trendy way to relax. According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is a mental health profession in which the process of making and creating artwork is used to "explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem."

I enjoy it as it makes me put the electronics away for a while. Now this book is definitely geared towards adults. Be sure to remove the page from the book and tape it to a hard surface for the best results. I used a set of color pencils and utilized the color photographs on the back of the book as a guide.

The gray-scale pages prove a creative challenge fit for adult relaxation. This is definitely not the usual coloring book.

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Adult coloring books are growing in popularity because thousands of people find it relaxing, helps you decompress, and let their inner child out to play while opening up creativity. Many of the books on the market are centered on patterns but we cater to you reef lovers. They are a little more detailed than a child's book but also designed for you to interpret the colors as you want to see them.

These pages were patterned for you to enjoy your free time diving into one of your passions, the ocean. You should not be limited to the color palette you see in your tank or on your next reef dive. Pick a color at random and jump in.

Now we understand that many adults probably haven't colored a page in over 20 years. Crayons were great as a child but grownups should probably use grown up materials. So we recommend colored pencils as you can blend them to make realistic works of art.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Foldable Storage Cube Baskets - Set of 6 #BandCHomeGoods

These storage cube baskets with reinforced extra strength stitching on each handle really do make transporting even heavy loads easy. I also love that you can simply wipe these durable cubes down to clean and then collapse for easy storage.

The baskets are perfect for my closet consolidation project. Nevertheless, If you are unsatisfied with your purchase for any reason they will refund your money no questions asked!!!

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Product Description

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Control your clutter, get a handle on great organization and do it all with style. Functionality and great design are our priories and this set of six fabric storage cubes will not only help you tidy up your home but won't ruin your home decor in the process. 

• GET ORGANIZED WITH AN ATTRACTIVE SOLUTION - Getting organized is a top priority but you don't have to sacrifice style to do it. This attractive 6 pack of beige fabric storage bins are designed to fit into almost any storage cube unit and hold a generous amount of toys, craft supplies, linens, games and more. They conceal your clutter and mess without being an eyesore like other bins and storage solutions. Each cube measures 11 inches x 10.5 inches x 10.5 inches.
  
• DUAL REINFORCED HANDLES MAKE TRANSPORTATION EASY - Unlike every other storage basket out there, these bins have handles on BOTH sides making them easy to pick up and transport. Even kids can easily carry them! Each handle is reinforced and attached to the bin with extra-strength stitching so the bins can handle a heavy load.
• SAVE SPACE WITH COLLAPSIBLE DESIGN - If you ever find you don't need to use all six storage containers at once, simply remove the heavy-duty board bottom of the cube and fold the whole unit up. Each cube reduces to about half an inch in thickness and can be easily stored away until future use.
• DURABLE WIPE-CLEAN FABRIC - We get it - sometimes life is messy. Especially when it comes to kids and corralling clutter around the house. Made out of durable non-woven fabric, these storage bins with handles on both sides easily wipe clean with a damp rag so you don't have to worry about stains and smudge marks from dirty hands or normal wear.
• CUSTOMER GUARANTEE We're confident you'll love our Foldable Cube Storage Containers with dual handles. However, if you're not completely satisfied, we'll give you a 100% refund within 90 days of purchase--NO QUESTIONS ASKED. We have the best customer service on Amazon, and YOU, the customer, are our top priority. Add a set to your shopping cart today for a risk-free culinary experience!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."